Hemorrhagic infarction: risk factors, clinical and tomographic features, and outcome. A case-control study.

A radiological diagnosis of hemorrhagic infarction (HI) was made in 41 of 2726 cases with cerebrovascular lesions (1.9%). The clinical records of the cases and those of 82 age- and gender-matched subjects with ischemic infarction were examined, and notes of the principal risk factors of cerebrovascular disorders, the clinico-radiologic features and the outcome of the disease were taken for comparison. Cardiac sources of emboli (atrial fibrillation, native or prosthetic valve disorders, recent myocardial infarction) were present in 44% of cases and in 24% of controls. Diabetes mellitus was recorded in 31% and 18% respectively. Thirteen percent of cases and 35% of controls gave a history of transient ischemic attacks. Stupor or coma during the acute phase and a more severe course were more common among cases. In general, HIs were significantly larger than ischemic infarcts, with mass-effect, although the size of the lesion did not seem to be related to the presence of cardiogenic embolism.